Unit 24

Several geographic features anchor navigation and hunting approach. Moncreiffe Ridge and Lodge Trail Ridge provide elevated vantage points for glassing open country below. The Beaver Creek Hills form a distinct terrain break useful for orientation.

South Piney Creek and Whitetail Creek serve as major drainages for travel and water access. Massacre Hill, Walker Mountain, and Columbus Peak are recognizable summits for navigation. Dinwiddie Lake and Silver Lake offer focal points in an otherwise open landscape, with numerous reservoirs and stock ponds providing supplemental water across the foothill country.

The unit spans from roughly 3,600 feet in the lower valley floors to just under 8,600 feet where forest meets higher peaks. Most of the hunting ground sits in the lower-to-mid elevation range, characterized by sagebrush grasslands interspersed with juniper and scattered ponderosa. Ponderosa-covered ridges and benches rise above the open flats, creating a patchwork of open glassing country and timbered pockets.

This mix of habitat types supports both species effectively, with deer moving seasonally between open grazing areas and timber cover based on weather and pressure.

Over 820 miles of road crisscross the unit, providing extensive access relative to terrain size. Most hunting pressure follows these roads and the main highway corridors. Proximity to Sheridan and regional towns means opening-weekend crowds aren't uncommon, particularly on public-access areas near roads.

However, the moderate size and scattered public land mean selective hunters can find quieter country by moving away from obvious access points and into rougher ground toward the Bighorn boundary. Private land interspersed with public creates a patchwork requiring attention to ownership, but overall connectivity supports convenient access for different hunting styles.

Unit 24 sits in the foothills north of Sheridan, Wyoming, bounded by Interstate 90 on the south and the Bighorn National Forest on the west and north. The Wyoming-Montana state line forms the northern boundary. Highway 87 and 193 provide primary access corridors, with several towns—Sheridan, Ranchester, Dayton, and Story—serving as staging points for hunters.

The unit occupies a transition zone between open prairie and forested mountain terrain, making it a logical choice for hunters seeking both accessibility and proximity to higher-elevation country.

Water availability is moderate and somewhat scattered throughout the unit. Piney Creek and South Piney Creek are reliable surface water sources in their drainages, flowing from the Bighorn National Forest boundary southeastward. Whitetail Creek, Elkhorn Creek, and East Wolf Creek provide smaller but consistent water.

Numerous reservoirs and ponds—including Kiewit Reservoir, Reynolds Piney Creek Diversion Dam, and Sheridan Heights Reservoir—supplement surface flow, though these are primarily ranching infrastructure. Springs like Red Grade Spring exist but aren't abundant. Water will influence deer movement during hot and dry periods, concentrating animals near reliable sources.

Unit 24 holds both mule deer and whitetail deer, with muleys favoring the higher ridges and more open terrain while whitetails use denser timber patches and creek bottoms. Early season brings deer scattered across open grasslands, making glassing ridges like Moncreiffe and Lodge Trail effective for locating animals. As temperatures drop and pressure increases, deer retreat into ponderosa stands and creek breaks.

Mid to late season pushes deer toward lower elevations toward the prairie. A successful approach balances road access with willingness to hike into rougher country away from main corridors. Water sources become critical during late season dry conditions, making reservoirs and reliable creeks worth monitoring.